By Weight Of Solids Patents (Class 210/113)
  • Patent number: 11607628
    Abstract: A sand handling system having, for example, one to three sand separators are configured to be operatively connected to a well and an inlet of a common dumping vessel. Advantageously, the dumping vessel has a sensor to measure an amount of sand in the dumping vessel and provide a signal to a programmable controller which is arranged to dump the dumping vessel when a specified amount of sand is in the dumping vessel. The system automates the sand handling process and also measures and records data associated with a number of flowback parameters. The data can then be used in well design to improve oil and/or gas production, lessen sand production, reduce well damage and/or equipment corrosion due to, for example, sand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Koby Byron Carlson, Matthew Allen Kieke, Shawn Marshall Woodard, Kenneth Paul Hagar
  • Patent number: 10376879
    Abstract: A mechanical separator for separating a fluid sample into first and second phases within a collection container is disclosed. The mechanical separator may have a separator body having a through-hole defined therein, with the through-hole adapted for allowing fluid to pass therethrough. The separator body includes a float, having a first density, and a ballast, having a second density greater than the first density. A portion of the float is connected to a portion of the ballast. Optionally, the float may include a first extended tab adjacent a first opening of the through-hole and a second extended tab adjacent the second opening of the through-hole. In certain configurations, the separator body also includes an extended tab band disposed about an outer surface of the float. The separator body may also include an engagement band circumferentially disposed about at least a portion of the separator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Jamieson W. Crawford, Ravi Attri, Christopher A. Battles, Benjamin R. Bartfeld, Gregory R. Hires
  • Patent number: 8585893
    Abstract: A particle collector for a dynamic cyclone placed on the ocean bottom for separation of particles in a fluid is described, where the dynamic cyclone comprises a tank (2) which is equipped with an upper inlet opening (25) and an upper and lower outlet opening (26, 32) for outflow of fluid and particles, respectively. Furthermore, the tank comprises a shaft (5) which is equipped with a number of vanes or blades (6) and which is arranged to be driven by an adjoining motor (1), where a centrally placed piece of pipe (4) with a number of slits is arranged around the shaft (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: AGR Subsea AS
    Inventor: Anders Mathias Arefjord
  • Publication number: 20130228526
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus to allow high pressure pumping a fluid mixture of solid and/or abrasive particles with a liquid, and separating the fluid mixture into a solid and/or abrasive particle component and a cleaned liquid component. An embodiment includes surrounding the pump plunger/piston, and timely cycling the cleaned liquid to flush the pump check valves to displace erosive solid and/or abrasive material. Consequently, this invention allows for proper check valve sealing, extends the life of check valves, extends the life of the pump, and improves efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventors: Wesley Mark McAfee, Mark Franklin Alley
  • Patent number: 8197680
    Abstract: Sludge dewatering apparatus includes an inflatable membrane to press solids against a screen and thereby separate liquid therefrom, and nozzles to wash the screen of the separated solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Eitan Sharir
  • Patent number: 8157988
    Abstract: A process for water treatment, including a combination of methods from the group comprising coagulation, sedimentation, flocculation and ballast flocculation, which is further improved by the addition of a simplified sludge recirculation system. The recirculation system corresponding to this process allows higher sludge density as well as less significant water volume losses by making the sludge accumulating at the bottom of the sedimentation zone go through a hydro cyclone a certain number of times in repeated cycles thus augmenting the solid particles density of the extracted sludge. The system may also be controlled by a suspended solid analyser, a flow meter and/or a timer. The present invention also includes a method of producing specific fluid flow control behavior with this simplified sludge recirculation system, which furthermore improves the efficiency of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventor: Luc Quevillon
  • Patent number: 7527726
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for treating drilling fluid by passing the fluid through a separator including a clarifying zone and a thickening zone, the clarifying zone having inclined plates and the thickening zone having at least one wall with an angle of less than about 60°. The separator may optionally include an agglomeration zone and a removal zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Q'Max Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Slough, Troy Lupul
  • Publication number: 20090001000
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating liquid waste material includes first adding a chemical flocculent to the liquid waste material followed in a mixer to promote flocculation. The floc material is subsequently separated to produce a bulk clarified liquid, with the floc material being subjected to a solids separator to extract further bulk clarified liquid. The collected bulk clarified liquid is then recycled back in a recycle loop into at least one of the steps of adding a chemical flocculent and solids separation of the floc material. The apparatus is suitable for use with a wide variety of liquid waste materials ranging from agricultural and human waste to industrial waste. An apparatus for treating liquid waste material is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Roger H. Woods Limited
    Inventors: Doug Pullman, Roger H. Woods
  • Patent number: 7311818
    Abstract: A water separation unit having an inner housing for storm water collection, separation of oils and debris from the storm water, and discharge of clean water. The inner housing is suspended inside an outer housing. The inner housing has a translatable floor with a plurality of hollow tubes extending upward from the floor and downward through the floor for passage of clean water from the inner housing and out the water separation unit. A plurality of conduits collect the clean water as it escapes from the inner housing and carries the clean water to a discharge tube and out the water separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventor: Benjamin Gurfinkel
  • Patent number: 6823238
    Abstract: A method and apparatus selective remove undesirable low gravity components from the return stream of drilling mud. The apparatus receives mud returned from the well borehole and transfers the mud to a tank. Mud from the tank is treated in a separation system including a plurality of mass flow sensor to monitor operation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Hutchison Hayes L.P.
    Inventors: Gary L. Hensley, Lee Hilpert
  • Patent number: 6803022
    Abstract: A device and method for separating heavier and lighter fractions of a fluid sample. The device includes a plurality of constituents comprising a container and a composite element in the container. The composite element is a separator comprising a deformable bellows, a ballast mounted to the lower end of the bellows, and a float is engageable with an upper end of the bellows. A fluid sample is delivered to the container and the device is subjected to centrifugation whereby the centrifugal load causes the ballast to move toward the bottom of the tube and causes an elongation and narrowing of the bellows. The separator then moves down the tube and stabilizes in a position between the separated phases of the fluid sample. Termination of the centrifugal load enables the bellows to return to its original condition in sealing engagement with the walls of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Paul C. DiCesare, Jeffrey R. Radziunas, Robert Losada, Fu-Chung Lin
  • Patent number: 5879552
    Abstract: A self-purifying filter apparatus comprising (1) a filter having a first surface and a second surface; (2) flow control means, such as a vacuum pump, for causing a stream of fluid interspersed with solid particulates to pass from the first surface to the second surface through the filter, thereby removing some of the solid particulates from the first stream of fluid and depositing them on the first surface; and (3) a purging device, such as a small reservoir of water (potentially formed, in part, by water previously filtered by the filter), for causing a second stream of fluid to pass from the second surface to the first surface through the filter without substantially changing the position of the filter, thereby rinsing and removing from the first surface at least some of the solid particulates that were deposited there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Michael T. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 5770092
    Abstract: The invention provides a multi-stage apparatus for continuous waste water filtration, comprising a first tank provided with a waste water inlet pipe to supply waste water containing suspended solids to the tank, means for adding a coagulant to the waste water and an outlet pipe, a second tank receiving the mixture of waste water and coagulant from the outlet pipe, the second tank being sufficiently large to allow larger suspended solids to settle and being provided with a lower, openable port for discharge of the settled solids and having an upper weir for discharge of partially-cleared water, a continuously-driven, non-taut perforated belt, having a surface positioned to receive, at a first location, a stream of the discharged, partially-cleared water, the belt perforations being sized to enable the passage of clear water therethrough while retaining fine and coagulated solids on the surface for subsequent discharge at a second location, and the belt being non-taut to form a trough for retaining a body of wa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Solar Dynamics Ltd.
    Inventor: Eitan Sharir
  • Patent number: 5643443
    Abstract: A system for purifying dredging water comprises a mixing compartment and an agitating means that mixes water with a coagulating agent. A discharge means collects the coagulated sediment and delivers it to a centrifugal sediment water separating means. An outlet at the top of the fluid container collects the purified water. Recirculation means connects the decanter with the container such that the water extracted from the sludge is returned to the mixing compartment. A conveyor means collects and transports decanted sediment. Preferably, baffles partially separate the container into compartments configured to promote mixing and sedimentation. The conveyor means may comprise a solidification reaction acceleration agent injector to mix this agent with the sediment to further dehydrate and solidify it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Taiki Corporation, U.S.A.
    Inventor: Yukio Ishikura
  • Patent number: 5573659
    Abstract: An improved filter apparatus (10) for removing debris from a free flowing water system (100) is described. The apparatus includes a rail (12) which is mounted adjacent the water supply intake opening (102) and a continuous belt (36) made of chain links (38) and connectors (44) which mounts around an upper sprocket cylinder (26) and a lower sprocket cylinder (32) spaced between the ends of the rail. Openings (42) in the belt collect debris from the water flowing through the belt. The connectors have lifters (50) which move the debris collected on the front side (36A) of the belt and are able to tilt to dump any debris of excess weight back into the water system. The belt is moved upward by a motor (54) which rotates the upper sprocket cylinder. As the belt moves upward, the debris collected on the belt and by the lifters is moved out of the water system toward the top of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventor: Ronald L. Johnson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5106492
    Abstract: A swimming pool skimmer includes a paddle wheel that directs fluid and debris into a debris catcher. The paddle wheel is turned by a motor that is powered from an array of solar cells. A solar concentrator focuses solar energy onto the solar cells, and an alarm circuit includes a strain gauge on the debris catcher. The strain gauge forms one leg of a bridge circuit that is connected to a comparator having a feedback loop. The output of the comparator is connected to an alarm element either directly or remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Inventors: John A. Distinti, Robert G. Fonti
  • Patent number: 4925550
    Abstract: A batch-action apparatus for filtering a fluid medium comprises a hermetically sealed housing (1) communicating with systems (9, 10 and 11) for feeding the fluid medium, discharging the clean medium, and evacuating filter cake.The housing (1) accommodates a flexible filter hose (2) one end (4) of which is turned inside out and attached to the housing (1), whereas the other end (7) thereof is connected to a hoisting mechanism (3) acting to move the hose (2) relative to the fixed end (4) of this hose. The end (4) of the hose (2) turned inside out forms an annular cavity (8) to which the fluid medium is fed and which varies in volume under the action of filter cake build-up or in response to the movement executed by the hoisting mechanism (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Inventors: Viktor V. Shishkin, Nikolai F. Kryazhevskikh, Jury P. Shapovalov
  • Patent number: 4839047
    Abstract: An intermittent-action apparatus for filtering liquid has a sealed casing (1) in which a hollow cylinder (8) is mounted so as to define with the casing (1) an annular space (9) communicating with a system for removing precipitate. A driven drum (12) is provided in the upper part of the casing (1), and one end (11) of a filtering hose (10) is secured to the drum, the other end (13) of the hose being turned inside out and secured along the perimeter to the hollow cylinder (8) so as to define around the remaining part of the hose an annular space (14) for liquid being filtered, the annular space varying in volume during accumulation of precipitate therein and during movement of the hose under the action of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Inventors: Viktor V. Shishkin, Nikolai F. Kryazhevskikh, Jury P. Shapovalov
  • Patent number: 4832843
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises a hermetically sealed hollow housing (1) accommodating in the interior thereof a flexible filtering member (2) in the form of a hose, the ends of which are turned inside out and attached to the periphery of the inside surface of the housing (1). Cavities (3,4) formed between the hose (2) and housing (1) communicate with a discharge device (8) for discharging the fluid medium being cleaned.Provided in the interior of the housing between the fixed ends of the hose (2) is a partition wall (9) having a slot-shaped opening (10) for the passage of this hose and dividing the interior of the housing (1) into two chambers (12, 13). Each such chamber (12, 13) is connected to the feeding device (17, 21) for feeding the fluid medium being cleaned and to the evacuation device for evacuating filter cake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Inzhenerny Tsentr "Truboprovod"
    Inventor: Viktor V. Shishkin
  • Patent number: 4555333
    Abstract: A self-purging separator for separating impurities from fluid intermittently pumped from a well or the like having a segregating device adapted to be received in such a well for segregating impurities from the fluid for descent of the impurities in such a well and a valve below the segregating device for accumulating the descending impurities when the fluid is being pumped and releasing such impurities for further gravitational descent in such well when the pumping is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Inventor: Claude C. Laval, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4431535
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator system for use in purifying drilling mud comprises a generally conical centrifugal separator into which drilling mud to be cleaned is introduced under pressure tangentially to cause centrifugal material flow. A vacuum generated within the center of the separator in response to centrifugal material movement draws lighter cleaned mud and drilling fluid upwardly to a discharge pipe which may lead to a remote drilling mud location. Heavier solids cleansed from the mud drop to the bottom of the centrifuge, settling on an output orifice closure valve. The valve is pivotally connected to the centrifuge whereby to close the output orifice until a preselected weight of material accumulates thereon. In order to prevent deleterious effects from suction variance, a single venting vacuum locking slot of a predetermined width is defined within the body of the orifice closure valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Inventor: Walter L. Spruiell
  • Patent number: 4428833
    Abstract: A spent flake drainer-conveyor for transferring spent flakes from a solvent extraction apparatus to a desolventizer-toaster apparatus, having a closed vapor tight housing extending from the desolventizer-toaster to the solvent extraction apparatus. A drainage section is formed in the housing and contains a screen section through which the flakes are moved. A vacuum source is attached to the drainage section causing a pressure differential across the screen in order to assist in separation of solvent from the flakes as they pass through the screen. A motor torque monitoring device is associated with the drive motor of the picker in the solvent extraction apparatus to provide an indication of the level of flakes in the trough portion of the solvent extraction apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: The French Oil Mill Machinery Co.
    Inventor: William M. Barger
  • Patent number: 4348279
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning drilling mud, wherein a straightflow hopper (1) has a pipe (2) for collecting drillings deposited from the drilling mud, accommodating a device (3) for removing the drillings. The device for removing the drillings comprises two shutters (4, 5) provided at the ends of the pipe (2) for collecting the drillings separated from the drilling mud, which are connected to one another and coupled to an actuator (8) for turning the shutters for alternately shutting-off the cross-section of the pipe (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1982
    Inventors: Jury P. Tikhonov, Stanislav A. Alekhin, Vitold M. Bakhir, Jury G. Zadorozhny
  • Patent number: 4333828
    Abstract: A valve for automatically dumping a load of solids entrained within a fluid transport medium in response to flow interruption is disclosed. The automatic dump valve is particularly well-suited for use in combination with a nodule transport riser in deep ocean mining operations. The automatic dump valve system is combined with a tubular conduit defining a longitudinally extending flow passage having a sidewall opening defining a dump port. The automatic dump valve assembly includes a movable dump port cover plate and a hydraulic actuator coupled to the cover plate. The hydraulic actuator is operably responsive to pressure changes within the flow passage relative to the pressure exerted by a surrounding body of water to open and close the dump port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Inventor: Donald F. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4250033
    Abstract: A control system to prevent the accumulation of excessive cellular material in a fluidized-bed reactor wherein a waste liquid to be processed is conducted upwardly at a velocity conducive to fluidization through a bed of particles which function as a carrier for the growth of the material. The system includes a separator column whose low end section extends toward the fluidized bed and whose high end section extends above a head of liquid effluent which lies on the bed, or is sealed and located below the surface of liquid effluent, the diameter of the high end section being greater than that of the low end section. In the course of reactor operation, the cellular material on the particles continues to grow, causing the bed to expand until its level reaches a point indicative of excessive growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1981
    Assignee: Ecolotrol, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Hickey, Roger W. Owens